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On the pages of these true bush flying stories, a floatplane races toward the shore and crashes in front of the lodge, Jake’s plane engine quits twice, a forest fire threatens Hardscrabble, a gale flies the plane minus a pilot, Jake searches for lost guests at night, firefighters are trapped between walls of flames and a boy must be airlifted after suffering a compound leg fracture.

Hardscrabble Lodge

Excitement and terror are combined with a practical guide to wilderness survival. Bush flying challenges and techniques are explored in detail.

On the pages of these true Maine bush flying stories, a floatplane races toward the shore and crashes in front of the lodge, Jake’s plane engine quits twice, a forest fire threatens Hardscrabble, a gale flies the plane minus a pilot, Jake searches for lost guests at night, firefighters are trapped between walls of flames and a boy must be airlifted after suffering a compound leg fracture.

After Jake completed engineering school, one fact was obvious: Life behind a desk was the wrong choice.

So off to Maine with his young bride, Beth! A teaching job led to flying lessons and a lifelong love affair with planes. After several years of instruction and practice, a dream job as a commercial floatplane pilot materialized.

As a flying family, exposure to the numerous remote lodges in Maine prompted Jake and Beth to purchase a dilapidated set of remote buildings, which they rebuilt and named Hardscrabble.

Today, Jake and Beth are retired and live next to their air strip, ME32.

Morrel’s book reads like you are sitting around a campfire or possibly a wood burning stove in this case and listening to the tales of someone who’s done the things you only dream of.

On the pages of these true bush flying stories, a floatplane races toward the shore and crashes in front of the lodge, Jake’s plane engine quits twice, a forest fire threatens Hardscrabble, a gale flies the plane minus a pilot, Jake searches for lost guests at night, firefighters are trapped between walls of flames and a boy must be airlifted after suffering a compound leg fracture.